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Essay about Fates Role in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Fate’s Role in “Romeo and Juliet”
In William Shakespeare’s play, “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, fate plays one of the largest roles in the plot. In order to understand how fate plays a role it is important to examine how the story begins, when Romeo meets Juliet, and when Romeo fights Tybalt after Tybalt kills Mercutio.

One reason why fate plays a big role is that the play begins by hinting that Romeo and Juliet will be affected by fate. The chorus begins the play by giving the general idea of the story. He explains to the audience that Romeo and Juliet are doomed from the start. “From the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” (Prologue, 5-6). The chorus says that …show more content…

Romeo becomes convinced that Juliet is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen and ever will see. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (I, 5, 57-58). Romeo says that his heart has never loved before that moment and that his eyes confirm that Juliet is truly a beauty to be sought. This quote shows how Romeo quickly forgets his lovesickness for Rosaline and falls deeply in love with Juliet. He says that he has never loved before showing that by fate directing Romeo to the party and Juliet to his heart, that fate brings Romeo and Juliet together.

Another example of how fate plays a role in the play is when Romeo must fight Tybalt after Mercutio’s death. Romeo is in Verona after seeing his best friend, Mercutio, die at the hands of Tybalt. Romeo says that he has to kill Tybalt because Tybalt has slain Mercutio. Romeo is overcome with rage and tries to do to Tybalt, what Tybalt had done to Mercutio. “This days black fate on mo days doth depend; this but begins the woe that others must end.” (III, 1, 126-127). Romeo says that fate has “blackened” the day and he must do something that he senses will end in tragedy. Romeo believes that he has to do this but he knows that the end of it will come back to haunt him. He realizes that this only begins the tragedy that is set upon him. He knows that by killing Tybalt others will die to bring peace. This shows that fate is constantly

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